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N. E. RICE. .Rocket Gun.

(No Model.)

No. 237,444. Patented Feb..s,188l.

WfTJms'SEs IL PETERS. PHOTO UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

NATHAN E. RICE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ROCKET-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,444, dated February 8, 1881.

Application led November 30, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NATHAN E. RICE, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Safety-Guide for Rockets, of which the following is a specication.

It is well known that by the ordinary method of firing rockets there is considerable danger of accidents from the misdirect-ion of them, and from sparks and explosions.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient apparatus by which rockets may be red with accuracy in any desired direction, and a person ring the same protected from sparks or explosions.

To this end I provide a light board or plate with a handle upon its upper side, and appliances for attaching and guiding a rocket on its lower side, as I will now explain in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my device complete, showing, in dotted lines, a rocket in position to be red. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a section through the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

A indicates a light board or plate, which may be flat, or curved so as to present a hollow on its under side, and which forms arocket guide and support, and serves as a shield to the operator. It is provided on its front side with a suitable handle, B, preferably hinged so that it may be folded down out of the way when the apparatus is not in use.

C indicates a spring-catch of ordinary construction, taking into a small recess, C', in the handle, and serving to hold it in position, as shown in Fig. 2; but I do not contine myself to this form of handle, as any other cheap and suitable hinged handle will serve the purpose.

D indicates a bracket or elbow projection secured transversely upon the back of the plate A, so as to leave a space, E, underneath the arm D of the bracket, suitable to receive a rocket-stick. Underneath the arm D', I secure a spring-stop, F, to the plate A, by means of screws G, or otherwise, working in a slot or recess, H, in the plate A. The arm D', I provide with a primer-aperture, I, communieating with another aperture, K, suitable to receive a percussion-primer, to be used for liring the base of the rocket-shell. Such a primer may be provided with a button, L, the breaking or tearing off of which will ignite the primer and communicate ire `to the base of the cartridge, which rests over the primer aperture K. Y

I provide a pulley, M, working in a slot in the shield A, over which works a pull-cord, M', to the end of which is attached a hook suitable to hook over the primer-button and enable the operator to pull it off and re the rocket.

N indicates a guide ring or loop for the lower end 'of the cartridge-stick, and two or more of these may be provided, if desired. Instead of rings a stick-slot might be provided in the plate A.

rlhe operation of my device is as follows: The cartridge-stick is pushed into the space E, the spring-stop F yielding to let it pass and then springing back behind it. The lower end of the stick is then inserted into the guidering and the rocket dropped do-wn until its base rests upon the bracket D. The primer being in place, and the pull-hook being hooked over its button, the operator merely has to seize the handle B and point the plate A in the direction he wishes to ire, and with the other hand pull the liring-cord.

It will not be necessary, although it is preferable, to use a pulley, M, and it will be practicable to modify the particular devices I have herein specified for securing the rocket in position to be red without departing from the substance of my invention. It will also be practicable to use some other form of primer and primer devices than that specified. For example, a hammer might be pivoted and connected with the pull-cord so as to give a blow to the fulminate of the primer.

One advantage of my device beyond that of serving to guide the rocket and protect the person ring it is, that it will enable rocket manufacturers to dispense with fuses attached to the rockets, as the primer I use will burn off the paper on the base of the rocket and lire it without the aid of a rocket-fuse.

I claiml. The combination ofthe rocket-guide shield or plate with the bracketD and spring-stop F, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the rocket-guide shield foo or plate With the bracket D and spring-stop F, and ,fluide-ring` N, substantially as described.

or plate with the bracket D, having primingapertures, and the pull-cord and hook, substan- 1o 3. The combination ofthe rocket-guide shield tially as described.

4. The combination of the rocket-guide shield NATHAN E. RICE.

Witnesses MARCUS S. HOPKINS, WM. J. PEYTON. 

